MOUNT HOREB -

Portage's football team scratched and clawed itself away from a part of school history this group of Warriors desperately wanted to avoid.

Trailing 28-24 with less than 2 minutes to go, the Warriors stood 39 yards and four points from keeping themselves from becoming the first Portage team since 1973 to go winless in a season. But Mount Horeb-Barneveld's defense wouldn't allow it as Portage's final drive stalled and the Warriors fell 28-24 Wednesday in their season finale.

After a game that saw Portage battle back from an early 14-0 to score 18 points in a 3 minute, 28 seconds span in the second quarter and stay close the rest of the game, one question remained: where was this the previous eight games of the season?

"This team is no better than any other team we played," senior captain Joe Mueller said after the game. "We could've done this earlier. I don't know, we just pulled it out tonight, we had something to fight for."

Senior quarterback Greg Koch threw for two TDs and ran for another, and Nate Fredrick returned a fumble recovery 23 yards for a touchdown, but it wasn't enough as the Vikings answered the challenge every time Portage looked to take control.

Mueller and his senior classmates had two things to fight for. One, none of the Warriors wanted to go winless on the season and none wanted to lose their final high school game.

It didn't look good early on as Mount Horeb's highly touted passing duo of quarterback Tim Holan and receiver Riley Koval hooked up for a 20-yard touchdown throw and catch that put the Vikings up 7-0 after their first drive.

Vikings running back Michael Martin then found the end zone from 21-yards out on their next drive and it looked like the same old story for the Warriors.

That was until the second quarter came and Portage scored 18 unanswered points just before halftime.

The first score came when Koch found receiver Kevin Hurd on a fourth-and-long for a 34-yard touchdown reception that cut Mount Horeb-Barneveld's lead to 14-6 after a missed two-point conversion.

On Mount Horeb's ensuing drive, Portage's Tom Tetzlaff sacked Holan and forced a fumble that Fredrick grabbed on the bounce and returned 23 yards for a defensive touchdown that not only cut Portage's deficit to 14-12 but also grabbed the momentum for the Warriors.

After senior Jake Hohlstein recovered a fumble on the Vikings ensuing drive, Portage drove 58 yards in 1 minute, 15 seconds and Koch found Shawn Maldonado wide open in the flat for a 5-yard passing touchdown that put Portage up 18-14 with 28 seconds left to go in the half.

After halftime, though, Mount Horeb's offense got back on track. The Vikings scored on their first two drives of the half and Portage couldn't respond until Koch plunged into the end zone from 1-yard out early in the fourth quarter.

Portage had two more drives in the game but Mount Horeb forced a punt and a turnover on downs on the final possession.

"It was fun to watch tonight," Portage coach Dave Schmitz said. "The kids were excited. They were playing with confidence. We talked about it all week. Let the first eight games go and stop thinking about them. They came out with a new attitude. We fought a great playoff team right until the end and it was a fun game to be a part of."

As for the question of where this type of play has been for Portage all season, Schmitz said there's no use in dwelling on the past.

"Tell you, there's a lot of ‘what ifs," Schmitz said. "And we could ‘would've, could've, should've' all we want. There's a lot of excuses but you've still got to get it done on the field and we didn't do a good job of it throughout the year."

Mueller said going winless on the season is a disappointment, but said the losses didn't put too much of a damper on an enjoyable season. He also said it will be hard to leave behind the game and the team after this season.

"It's a fun game no matter if you win or lose," Mueller said. "You're out there with your friends. A few more wins and we would've been happier, but...

"I'm gonna miss the teamwork, you know, everyone's got each other's backs. You can't replace that."

Schmitz echoed that sentiment when reflecting on the year.

"This is a good group of seniors, though, they're a fun group to be a part of," Schmitz said. "0-9 is kind of disappointing for them, I know, but hopefully they'll remember the good times and all the memories that are associated with high school football.

"Football is a special sport. It creates a bond and they came together and they'll remember these moments for the rest of their lives."

MOUNT HOREB-BARNEVELD 28, PORTAGE 24

Portage ......................0 18 0 6 - 24

Mount Horeb-Barn. .......14 0 14 0 - 28

MHB - Koval 20 pass from Holan (Fargo kick)

MHB - Martin 21 run (Fargo kick)

P - Hurd 34 pass from G. Koch (run failed)

P - Fredrick 23 fumble return (pass failed)

P - Maldonado 5 pass from G. Koch (run failed)

MHB - Holan 1 run (Fargo kick)

MHB - Koval 11 pass from Holan (Fargo kick)

P - G. Koch 1 run (pass failed)

TEAM STATS                      P                 MH

First downs .................15            12

Total Net Yards ..........287          317

Rushes-yards ............38-178      29-88

Passing ....................109           229

Comp-Att-Int .............13-21-0     15-24-0

Penalties-Yards ..........7-45          3-35

Fumbles-Lost .............1-1            2-2

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: P - Robinson 24-126. MHB - Martin 7-55. PASSING: P - G. Koch 13-21-0-109. MHB - Holan 15-24-0-229. RECEIVING: P - Hurd 7-76. MHB - Ostrander 5-86.